Athletics Betting Types

Understanding Athletics Betting

Athletics betting is one of the greatest, yet one of the most underrated, sports for betting opportunities at online sportsbooks. There are plenty of athletics betting markets out there for sports bettors to enjoy, but a complete understanding of this sport is what will give you the edge.

At the end of this article you will know and understand the vast majority of the different athletics bet types, as well as how to navigate through these markets. And since the term athletics covers quite a broad range of events, we will be explaining the most popular track and field bet types in order to give you a solid understanding of it all.  If you find that some of the terms used about athletics betting in this article are unclear, refer to our guide to online athletics betting. 

So while a basic understanding of athletics is important, it is essential for you to know how to navigate the various athletics betting types and use these to your advantage.

Events to Watch Out for

The downside to athletics betting is that the events are not as common as other sports such as soccer or tennis, but there are three key events that you need to tune in for. While infrequent, this does not mean that the events aren't worthwhile for sports bettors. Some of the most important athletics betting markets become available during large events such as the Olympics, the IAAF World Athletics Championships and the IAAF World Indoor Championships. 

Again, this does not mean that athletics betting is not worthwhile. It is simply the case that these events are more infrequent than other sports. The major events mentioned above occur at set times throughout the year, and we have explained the details for each right here.

• The Olympics

When sports bettors think of the different track and field bet types, chances are that they will immediately think of the Olympics. This huge event is held every 4 years, and the next one will be held in Tokyo during the summer of 2020.

• IAAF World Championships

In terms of prestige, this event closely follows the Olympics. The difference is that this event occurs every 2 years, with the next one being held in just a few short weeks. The athletics bet types remain consistent with what is seen for the Olympics.

• IAAF World Indoor Championships

As the name suggest, the World Indoor Championships take place indoor rather than outdoors. This event is also held every 2 years, but occurs during even years rather than odd years. The next event actually falls during the same year as the Olympics, 2020. And the various athletics betting types are again consistent with what is on offer for the other 2 events.

Popular Athletics Bets

As seen with other sports, there is a broad range of athletics betting markets. But we have narrowed it down to the 3 most popular types of bets, and you will learn these 3 right here. 

• To Place

This is by far one of the most popular athletics bet types, as it offers a greater chance for you to win your bet. Much like horse racing, you can bet on an athlete to 'place' during an event. This means that you are betting on the athlete to finish in the top 3 during the competition.

• Outright Winner

Despite the various track and field bet types available, you will always have the chance to place this bet before larger competitions. Much like other sports, you can place a bet on a particular athlete to win an event before it even starts. This is known as an outright bet.

• Multiple Events Winner

In athletics, it is fairly common for an athlete to participate in multiple events during a competition. For example, Usain Bolt may take part in the 100m race, 200m race, 400m race and others. This is quite a unique bet that is almost exclusively available to athletics. Basically you are betting that one particular athlete will win multiple events, which is a good way to obtain higher odds.

These are just 3 of the most popular athletics betting types. There are more, but these are heavily favored compared to the other markets.

Important Athletics Betting Terminology

To successfully navigate the many athletics betting markets, you absolutely have to understand the associated terminology. We have broken down and explained the most vital terms below.

• Banker

You may hear people refer to somebody as a 'banker' in an event, which basically means they are heavily favored to win. The downside is that you will get relatively poor odds for a banker.

• Winning Time

You may see track and field bet types that display a winning time bet. With athletics, races are of course timed and this allows for clear calculations of who finished in what place, and with what time. This is a less popular type of bet, but the term winning time is often applied for events such as swimming, track races and even marathons.

• Outright

Not only is this the most popular market for athletics betting, but it is also the term that you will see the most. Outright can be used to describe who will win an entire event, or a specific race. The term is almost used synonymously with the term 'winner'. 

So where do you start?

If you refer back to earlier in the article, you will see that the IAAF World Championships will start later this year. This is a perfect opportunity to get acquainted with online athletics betting.

Remember the 3 main athletics betting types, and stick to these markets initially. This will allow you to become familiar with how the events work. If you don't have a background in athletics or follow it closely, make sure you bet small to develop knowledge with minimal risk!